Button



(No Model.)

04v. GODDARD.

BUTTON.

No. 283,772. Patented Aug. 28, 1883.

gmplmr. Washinglon. n c

Darren STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES V. GODDARD, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

BUTTON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 288,772, dated August 28, 1883.

Application filed January 6, 1883.

To all whom it, may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES V. GODDARD, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Buttons, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to improve the construction of what are commonly known in the art as self-fastening buttons, or buttons which are secured by metallic fastenings in such manner as to admit of their being applied more readily and to give them additional security of attachment, also to adapt the button for attachment either by means of the me tallic fastening or by stitching, as usual.

To this end the invention consists in certain details of construction, which will be hereinafter fully explained, these improvements consistingin providing the back of the button with openings of triangular form to engage with prongs or projections upon the fastening device, in constructing saidprongs orprojections 0f enlarged size at their ends the better to prevent them from being accidentally withdrawn. from the button, also in providing the button with four holes in its back and a single central opening in its front, whereby it is adapted to operate in connection with the prong-fast preferred form. Fig. 5 is a transverse central section of thebutton as it appears when secured in position. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the fastening.

A represents the body of the button or button proper, consisting, essentially, of a front plate, a, and a back plate, I), seamed together at the periphery or otherwise united. The front plate, a, which may be made of any form desired, is closed or provided with a central 11010 or opening,c, the edge of which is preferably curled inward, as shown, to give a pleasing finish and to prevent the exposure of the sharp edge of the metal. The back plate, (I, is made dished or concave, as usual, on its rear face for the purpose of leaving between (No model.)

the front and back plates an intermediate space, d, to receive the prongs of the fastening device, hereinafter described. The back plate,

b, is also provided with four holes or perforations, 6, to receive the prongs of the fastening device, these holes being made, as shown in Fig. 3, of triangular form and arranged with their narrow ends toward the periphery of the button. I

B represents the fastening device, consisting, essentially, of a circular disk or cup provided with four prongs, f, projecting forward at right angles from its edges. These prongs are made with pointed ends adapted to pierce the fabric, and are preferably tapered or enlarged toward said ends, as represented in Fig. 4.

In applying the button the prongs are thrust through the fabric from the rear side and-permitted to project on the front. The button is then applied in such manner that the prongs will enter the perforations e and force downward firmly toward the fabric, the effect of which is to cause the prongs to be turned outward and extended between the front and back plates of the button, in the manner represented in Fig. 5, thus securing the button to the fabric. Owing to the triangular form of the holes, it will be perceived that upon attempting to remove the button the prongs or arms of the fastening device will be drawn outward into the narrow ends of the perforations 6 in such manner as to wedge firmly therein and hold the button with increased security. This effect is increased by the tapering or enlarging form of the arms or prongs, which offer an increasing resistance as an attempt is made to draw them through the open ings. WVhile it is preferred to employ the prongs with enlarged ends or heads, good results may be obtained when they are made of uniform or substantially uniform width, as represented in Fig. 6, the prongs constructed in said figure being adapted to wedge tightly into the triangular openings.

In order to insure the spreading of the arms when the front plate is made of thin metal without danger of puncturing or injuring the same, a clinching -plate, of iron or equivalent mate rial, may be applied within the button against the front plate, as indicated at t in Fig. 2; but this clinching-plate is not ordinarily required.

On reference to Figs. 1 and 2 it will be ob served that the openings 6 in the back are all accessible through the single opening 0 in the front. This construction permits a needle carrying a fastening-thread to be inserted through the button from the front for the purpose of sewing the same in place upon a. garment in cases in which it is not convenient to employ a metallic fastening. The combination, therefore, in the one button of the single central opening and the several small openings of the back is a matter of considerable importance, in that it adapts the same button to be applied in either of two ways. The fastening-thread applied to my button will be seated within and protected by the body of the button, and

will be practically hidden from observation. I am aware that buttons have been provided with perforations in the front; also, that buttons have been provided with perforations in the back, and that buttons have been secured to garments by fastening devices of different kinds having prongs or arms to enter openings in the body of the button, and I therefore make no claim to either of said'features, separatelyconsidered.

Asto all matters which may be described or shown herein, but which are not specifically claimed, the right is reserved to make the same the subject of a separate patent.

Having thus described my invention, what 30 1. As an improved article of manufacture, a

button consisting of a front plate and a back plate, the latter provided with triangular openings having their narrowest ends toward the 3 5 periphery.

2. The fastening B for a metallic button,

consisting of a disk or head provided with prongs enlarged at their ends, as and for the purpose described.

, 40 3. In combination with the button-body provided with perforations, the fastening device having the prongs with enlarged ends.

4. In combination with the button-body having triangular perforations in its back, the 5 fastening device, consisting of the disk having its arms or prongs seated in said perforations.

5. As'an improved article of manufacture,

CHARLES V. GODDARD.

Witnesses:

WV. Q. RIDDLE, O. E. LANGDON. 

